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he has brought upon us. For nothing so brings us near to God and makes us like Him, as this right action. For this reason Paul also when he says, Be imitators of God, means, be so in this respect. For we have need of all right actions, but especially of love for mankind and gentleness, since we ourselves also are in need of much love for mankind. For we commit many sins every day; wherefore we also have need of much mercy. But the much and the little is judged not by the measure of what is given, but by the ability of the substance of those who provide. Therefore let not the rich man be high-minded, nor the poor man be cast down as giving little; for often this one has given more than that one. We should not then count ourselves wretched because of poverty; for it makes almsgiving easier for us. For he who has possessed much is held by both greater folly and desire for what he has; but he who has little is free from both these tyrannies; wherefore he also finds more opportunities for doing good. For this one will easily go to a prison, and will visit the sick, and will give a cup of cold water; but that one will condescend to none of these things, being puffed up by his wealth. Do not be disheartened, then, because of poverty; for poverty makes the commerce of the heavens easier for you. And even if you have nothing, but have a compassionate soul, for this too a reward will be laid up for you. For this reason Paul also commanded to weep with those who weep, and commanded us to be with those in bonds as if bound with them. For not only to those who weep does it bring some comfort that there are many who sympathize, but also to those in other circumstances; for there are times when a word can restore the afflicted no less than money. For this reason God commanded to give money to those in need, not only to relieve their poverty, but also to teach us to sympathize with the evils of our neighbor. For this reason also the lover of money is hated, not only because he overlooks 60.595 those in poverty, but because he himself is drawn into cruelty and great inhumanity; just as, therefore, he who despises money for their sake is also for this reason beloved, because he becomes merciful and a lover of mankind. And Christ, when He blesses the merciful, blesses and praises not only those who are merciful with money, but also those who do this out of choice. Let us, therefore, provide this disposition for mercy, and all good things will follow. For he who has a philanthropic and merciful mind, even if he has money, 60.596 will give it away; if he sees someone in misfortunes, he will weep and mourn; if he comes upon someone being wronged, he will stand up for them; if he sees someone being insulted, he will lend a hand. For having the treasure of good things, the philanthropic and merciful soul, he will pour forth from there everything on behalf of the brethren, and will enjoy all the rewards laid up by God. In order, therefore, that we also may obtain these things, let us above all prepare a gentle soul. For thus, while we are here, we will work countless good deeds, and we will enjoy the crowns to come; of which may we all be counted worthy to obtain by grace and love for mankind, and so forth.

HOMILY 20.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your

bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 1. After having discoursed at length on the love of God for mankind, and having shown His unspeakable solicitude, and His unutterable goodness which cannot even be searched out, he then puts this forward, to persuade those who have received benefits to show a life worthy of the gift.

And being so great and of such stature, he does not shrink from beseeching; and this not for what he himself was about to enjoy, but for what they were to gain.

And why do you marvel, if he himself does not shrink from beseeching, when indeed

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ἐπήγαγεν. Οὐδὲν γὰρ οὕτως ἡμᾶς προσάγει Θεῷ καὶ ὁμοίους ποιεῖ, ὡς τουτὶ τὸ κατόρθωμα. ∆ιὰ τοῦτο καὶ Παῦλος ὅταν λέγῃ, Γίνεσθε μιμηταὶ τοῦ Θεοῦ, κατὰ τοῦτο γίνεσθε, λέγει. Πάντων μὲν γὰρ χρείαν ἔχομεν τῶν κατορθωμάτων, μάλιστα δὲ φιλανθρωπίας καὶ ἡμερότητος, ἐπεὶ καὶ αὐτοὶ πολλῆς δεόμεθα φιλανθρωπίας. Καὶ γὰρ πολλὰ καθ' ἑκάστην πλημμελοῦμεν τὴν ἡμέραν· διὸ καὶ πολλοῦ ἡμῖν δεῖ τοῦ ἐλέους. Τὸ δὲ πολὺ καὶ ἔλαττον οὐ τῷ μέτρῳ τῶν διδομένων κρίνεται, ἀλλὰ τῇ δυνάμει τῆς οὐσίας τῶν παρεχόντων. Μὴ τοίνυν μήτε ὁ πλουτῶν μέγα φρονείτω, μήτε ὁ πένης καταπιπτέτω ὡς ὀλίγα παρέχων· πολλάκις γὰρ οὗτος ἐκείνου πλείονα δέδωκεν. Οὐ τοίνυν ταλανίζειν ἑαυτοὺς χρὴ διὰ τὴν πενίαν· καὶ γὰρ εὐκολωτέραν ἡμῖν ποιεῖ τὴν ἐλεημοσύνην. Ὁ μὲν γὰρ πολλὰ κεκτημένος, καὶ ἀπονοίᾳ καὶ ἐπιθυμίᾳ πλείονι κατέχεται τῶν ὄντων· ὁ δὲ ὀλίγα ἔχων, ἑκατέρας ταύτης ἀπήλλακται τῆς τυραννίδος· διὸ καὶ πλείονας ἀφορμὰς εὑρίσκει τοῦ εὖ ποιεῖν. Καὶ γὰρ καὶ εἰς δεσμωτήριον οὗτος βαδιεῖται εὐκόλως, καὶ ἀῤῥωστοῦντας ἐπισκέψεται, καὶ ποτήριον ψυχροῦ δώσει· ἐκεῖνος δὲ οὐδὲν τούτων καταδέξεται, ἅτε ὑπὸ τοῦ πλούτου φλεγμαίνων. Μὴ οὖν ἀθύμει διὰ τὴν πενίαν· καὶ γὰρ καὶ τὴν ἐμπορίαν τῶν οὐρανῶν εὐκολωτέραν σοι ποιεῖ ἡ πενία. Κἂν μηδὲν δὲ ἔχῃς, συναλγοῦσαν δὲ ἔχῃς ψυχὴν, καὶ τούτου σοι μισθὸς ἀποκείσεται. ∆ιὰ τοῦτο καὶ Παῦλος ἐπέταξε κλαίειν μετὰ κλαιόντων, καὶ τοῖς δεσμίοις ὡς συνδεδεμένους εἶναι ἐκέλευσεν. Οὐ γὰρ τοῖς κλαίουσι μόνον φέρει τινὰ παραμυθίαν τὸ πολλοὺς εἶναι τοὺς συναλγοῦντας, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῖς ἐν ἄλλαις περιστάσεσιν οὖσι· καὶ γὰρ ἔστιν ὅπου χρημάτων οὐκ ἔλαττον λόγος ἀνακτήσασθαι δύναται τὸν πεπονηκότα. ∆ιὰ γὰρ τοῦτο καὶ χρήματα διδόναι ἐκέλευσεν ὁ Θεὸς τοῖς δεομένοις, οὐχ ἵνα τὴν ἐκείνων πενίαν διορθώσῃ μόνον, ἀλλ' ἵνα καὶ ἡμᾶς διδάξῃ συναλγεῖν τοῖς τοῦ πλησίον κακοῖς. ∆ιὰ τοῦτο καὶ ὁ φιλάργυρος μισητὸς, οὐχ ὅτι περιορᾷ 60.595 τοὺς ἐν πτωχείᾳ μόνον, ἀλλ' ὅτι καὶ αὐτὸς εἰς ὠμότητα ἀλείφεται καὶ ἀπανθρωπίαν πολλήν· ὥσπερ οὖν καὶ ὁ χρημάτων ὑπερορῶν δι' ἐκείνους, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο ποθεινὸς, ὅτι ἐλεήμων γίνεται καὶ φιλάνθρωπος. Καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς δὲ ὅταν μακαρίζῃ τοὺς ἐλεήμονας, οὐ τοὺς διὰ χρημάτων ἐλεοῦντας μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοὺς διὰ προαιρέσεως τοῦτο ποιοῦντας μακαρίζει καὶ ἐπαινεῖ. Ταύτην τοίνυν παρέχωμεν ἐπιτηδείαν πρὸς ἔλεον, καὶ πάντα ἕψεται τὰ ἀγαθά. Ὁ γὰρ φιλάνθρωπον γνώμην ἔχων καὶ ἐλεήμονα, κἂν χρήματα ἔχῃ, 60.596 προήσεται, κἂν ἐν συμφοραῖς ἴδῃ τινὰ, κλαύσεται καὶ θρηνήσει, κἂν ἀδικουμένῳ περιτύχῃ, προστήσεται, κἂν ἐπηρεαζόμενον θεάσηται, χεῖρα ὀρέξει. Τὸν γὰρ θησαυρὸν ἔχων τῶν ἀγαθῶν, τὴν φιλάνθρωπον καὶ ἐλεήμονα ψυχὴν, πάντα ἐκεῖθεν ἀναβλύσει τὰ ὑπὲρ τῶν ἀδελφῶν, καὶ πάντων ἀπολαύσεται τῶν παρὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ κειμένων μισθῶν. Ἵνα οὖν καὶ ἡμεῖς τούτων ἐπιτύχωμεν, πρὸ πάντων τὴν ψυχὴν ἥμερον κατασκευάσωμεν. Οὕτω γὰρ καὶ ἐνταῦθα ὄντες μυρία ἐργασόμεθα ἀγαθὰ, καὶ τῶν μελλόντων ἀπολαυσόμεθα στεφάνων· ὧν γένοιτο πάντας ἡμᾶς ἐπιτυχεῖν χάριτι καὶ φιλανθρωπίᾳ, καὶ τὰ ἑξῆς.

ΟΜΙΛΙΑ Κʹ.

Παρακαλῶ οὖν ὑμᾶς, ἀδελφοὶ, διὰ τῶν οἰκτιρμῶν τοῦ Θεοῦ, παραστῆσαι τὰ

σώματα ὑμῶν θυσίαν ζῶσαν, ἁγίαν, εὐάρεστον τῷ Θεῷ, τὴν λογικὴν λατρείαν ὑμῶν. αʹ. Πολλὰ περὶ τῆς τοῦ Θεοῦ φιλανθρωπίας διαλεχθεὶς, καὶ δείξας αὐτοῦ τὴν ἄφατον κηδεμονίαν, καὶ τὴν ἀπόῤῥητον ἀγαθότητα καὶ οὐδὲ ἐρευνηθῆναι δυναμένην, αὐτὴν λοιπὸν ταύτην προβάλλεται, εἰς τὸ πεῖσαι τοὺς εὐεργετηθέντας ἀξίαν τῆς δωρεᾶς ἐπιδείξασθαι τὴν πολιτείαν. Καὶ τοσοῦτος ὢν καὶ τηλικοῦτος, οὐ παραιτεῖται παρακαλεῖν· καὶ ταῦτα οὐχ ὑπὲρ ὧν αὐτὸς ἔμελλεν ἀπολαύειν, ἀλλ' ὑπὲρ ὧν ἐκεῖνοι κερδανεῖν εἶχον. Καὶ τί θαυμάζεις, εἰ αὐτὸς οὐ παραιτεῖται παρακαλεῖν, ὅπου γε καὶ